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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 37th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > June > 30 > Entry
Encarnacion’s mysterious day off
Edwin Encarnacion was scheduled to play today for the Louisville Bats, but he was not in the lineup and didn’t play at all. Adam Rosales played third base.
A setback? Something wrong?
Nobody really knows. The Reds made some quick calls and were told that nothing is wrong with Encarnacion, “Just a manager’s decision.”
A long-time employee of the Reds said he had never heard of such a thing - that when the team sent a player down on rehab he always plays, unless there is a problem.
And the strange thing is that the Bats are off tomorrow, so Encarnacion would get a day off then. Now he gets two in a row.
As was pointed out by a Reds official, Encarnacion played only six innings his first game on rehab, seven innings the next game, he DHed for two games, “So he can’t be tired and can’t be in need of a rest.”
EVEN IF ENCARNACION is OK and on track, manager Dusty Baker said there is no plan to activate him on this six-game homestand against Arizona and St. Louis.
“I’m not counting on him for the homestand,” he said. “Optimistically, maybe the next road trip.”
CATCHER RYAN HANIGAN (.321), outfielder Jonny Gomes (.343) and outfielder Chris Dickerson (.279 - .467 over his last 11 games) were all to be in the dugout when tonight’s game begins against the Diamondbacks.
Willy Taveras was in center and leading off, Ramon Hernandez was catching and Laynce Nix was in left field.
Manager Dusty Baker says he has a plan.
“I’m going to get them in there like I’ve been doing,” he said. “I’d rather have that than a bunch of guys who aren’t hitting. Taveras had success against this team (Arizona) at their place. And the games against the American League helped them all get some at-bats with the DH.
“You can’t play everybody but I have a plan to keep ‘em sharp and productive and a plan to help us at the same time,” Baker added. “We knew this could potentially happen when we started. You don’t have a good team unless you have too many good bodies.
“Gomes is my left fielder against lefthanded pitchers because he has been deadly against lefthanders,” Baker added. “Dickerson is making big progress against lefthanders and that’s why I’m not afraid to throw him in there.”
Even though he continues to struggle, Jay Bruce plays every day and Baker said, “Jay needs the at-bats and experience to be what he is going to be. If not, you’ll be thwarting his progress. And he is starting to swing better - more selective, hitting the ball harder.”
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Comments
By Wizard
July 2, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this
A very nice, and well received post Mr. Timb! More people should present well written posts such as you did-instead of trying to be as mean and nasty as they can. Thank you for that! I do agree with you, also. I like Dusty except for the few players, I think he has cheated: Hanigan/Dickerson/Janish. Other than those players I think he has done well as the Reds manager. You are correct on that point. I didn’t get to hear all of today’s game; but it sounds like Dickerson did well{I missed the last two innings}—and Hanigan had his best day, it seems. Janish, early was a failure, I guess—although I still believe his glove should be at SS{especially ahead of Hairston}until they get someone who can field AND hit. Hairston is not a good SS-limited range and arm. I am extremely disappointed in this teams fundamentals-they are awful. Used to be if players were good enough to get to AAA or major leagues, good fundamentals was a must. One example, Bruce and others not knowing where outfielders are playing-BEFORE the ball is hit-when they are on base! Inexcusable. Thanks again for being a gentleman.Go Reds!By timb
July 2, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this
Wizard, I enjoyed the comments on Janish’s muscles…nice work. And, I really hope you did realize I wasn’t mentioning you as some sort of retard or anything. As I said, I agree with you about Dickerson, although his failure in today’s 8th inning is still hurting me. I think he should playing, because you and I know Willy cannot hit. Unfortunately, Dusty and Walt think he CAN and Dusty will continue to imagine he’s just slumping and needs to play to work it out. My main point remains (and it was not about you): Dusty baffles me with his line-ups and “strategizing,” but this terrible offensive team is still within striking distance. Dusty is doing something right. Considering what he has lacked in offense (edwin, a .215 hitting Bruce, a absent Votto, a catcher who hits 20 bombs and hasn’t hit any, and no Left fielder) there’s no reason to impugn Dusty. He has them improbably in position to win the division. Still, always nice talking with youBy Wizard
July 1, 2009 10:13 PM | Link to this
Well now, Mr. Timb, Chris Dickerson wasn’t the difference between winning and losing last night…But, he was tonight!!!! Nice timing on your comments. Haha. Never underestimate the Wizard’s post’s; or the CD’s or Janish abilities. Pay closer attention, Timb! Call me out again!By Wizard
July 1, 2009 5:57 PM | Link to this
Timb makes some good points— but, IMO, exaggerates greatly, in order to make his points! When I suggested Janish be inserted into the lineup, it was long ago, when his muscles had yet to atrophy! Not, after he was forced to sit and watch Gonzo’s bad habits, for weeks!In addition, Gonzo was doing absolutely nothing for the REDS offensively; therefore, my opinion was, Janish being near his equal, defensively, could be no worse offensively, even if he got singles only occasionally—Since Gonzo was getting none, I say, ZERO hits, period. I made no claim, whatsoever, that Janish was the ghost of Phil Rizzuto, or any other Yankee! You exaggerate, my good fellow! In addition,If you can tell me{with a straight face} that Chris Dickerson is not a better athlete than WT—just by watching him play defense—I’ll eat your REDS cap! We will never know what CD can do over an entire season; because our ‘under orders’ manager is as stupid as those giving the orders! Whether CD is the difference between winning and losing is NOT, and NEVER HAS BEEN, the point! The point is with what is available to play CF for this team, it takes no great amount of imagination to say: THE GUY THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING{for way too long}AIN’T GETTING ‘ER DONE!When a starter isn’t getting it done—AND ANOTHER ONE IS—benching the ‘other one’ after he makes four outstanding diving catches, is not something thinking people would conclude that ‘VETERANS’ would admire and appreciate—at least not on any team I ever played on! One last thought:If this team is going to progress, it seems to me that improvement at each position is the answer.If our manager can improve a position, if only a small amount, I as a paying customer, demand it of him. He is not, and has not done it, with what is available to him at CF and SS, in a timely manner. I berate him for this; which is my perogative on this blog. When he acts like he wants to win each and every game, I will give him credit. Thanks for your kind attention.By Jt
July 1, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this
“Jibberish” that defines it all!!By timb
July 1, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
One of the three worst offenses in baseball and they are one game under and in this race. Is that just dumb luck? For all the Dusty haters and for all my consternation at his line-up card, filling out said line up card is about 10% of a manager’s job. Dusty has done a great job with the retreads and never-could-hits he’s been given here and the hate Dusty crowd should back off. We have Wizard three weeks ago demanding Janish play cause he’s suddenly a .345 hitter. He’s played in Gonzo’s absence and shockingly his average dropped like a stone. Now, the same guy (who is a good commenter, but I’m calling him out ‘cause I remember him not out of animus) is demanding Dickerson play with nary a word ab out Janish. Do you guys suddenly imagine Chris Dickerson (who I also think should be playing) is the difference between winning and losing last night? Dear lord, he ain’t Babe Ruth. Nonetheless, we are in some agreement. Unlike Gonzo, who can hit just a touch, Taveras cannot hit. He never could, save two months of the 2007 miracle Colorado season. But, we don’t know Dickerson can hit either. Dusty thinks Taveras CAN hit and he’s under orders to play the guy (who just got a two year deal). Dusty will give him a chance to get out of that slump, and his players love him for that. Personally, I’d rather see CDickerson in CF, but I understand why Dusty’s doing it and why his veterans love him for that loyalty. In the interim, I guess we’ll just have to read constant carping about the manager on an over-achieving team and how playing this bench player or that one will suddenly turn the Reds into the ‘27 YankeesBy Steven Ross
July 1, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this
Good old Dusty has a plan. I feel much better about the Reds chances now. Piece of work. We’ll never win with this guy. Never in my life have I witnessed a manager fill out a lineup card which rarely makes sense like Baker. Come on Walt, bring your own man in and release me from this insanity.By jim m.
June 30, 2009 10:41 PM | Link to this
“Manager Dusty Baker says he has a plan. “I’m going to get them in there like I’ve been doing,” he said. “I’d rather have that than a bunch of guys who aren’t hitting.” SAY WHAT??? A bunch of guys that are not hitting?? So whats the excuse for the past two seasons letting your worse hitter be your leadoff hitter?? If I was manager, till he PROVES he can be a productive starter, Taveras is platooning with Dickerson!! Tonight Dickerson should have been starting!!..By Wizard
June 30, 2009 9:32 PM | Link to this
“You can’t play everybody but I have a plan to keep ‘em sharp and productive and a plan to help us at the same time,” Baker added. This wouldn’t be like your previous Corey Patterson/Willy Taveras/ and Alex Gonzalez plans, would it?By Wizard
June 30, 2009 9:23 PM | Link to this
“Taveras had success against this team (Arizona) at their place.” Baker. What happened? Did their pitchers hit his bat? And, lets not forget that two of his three hits the other night, were bunts, uncommonly, placed well.By Wizard
June 30, 2009 9:13 PM | Link to this
and outfielder Chris Dickerson (.279 - .467 over his last 11 games) I have a ‘plan’ Dusty Dimwit! PLAY THIS PLAYER EVERY DAMN GAME IN CF, UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR!By The Professor
June 30, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this
“Dickerson is making big progress against lefthanders and that’s why I’m not afraid to throw him in there.” Dusty speaks. No Dusty, you are misleading people again: CD has always hit lefties pretty well; and much better than YOU ever gave him credit for! You are the guy who branded him, as being unable to hit lefties-before you even let him try! That makes you a liar.By The professor
June 30, 2009 9:00 PM | Link to this
Nice defensive play in center tonight, by the Reds second best center fielder!By Screw Job By Dusty Baker
June 30, 2009 8:56 PM | Link to this
“Jay needs the at-bats and experience to be what he is going to be. If not, you’ll be thwarting his progress. And he is starting to swing better - more selective, hitting the ball harder.” Dusty Baker: Just exactly how does this same comment not apply to Chris Dickerson? You are a manipulative phoney liar!By Dawg_Pound
June 30, 2009 6:59 PM | Link to this
Hey, maybe Sweet has more brains than our current manager, huh?By Ctime
June 30, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
I guess Rick Sweet isn’t impressed with Encarnacion’s play so he decided to sit him. The Bats need today’s game in the standings.By Ron
June 30, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this
I am not sure how you cannot have Hanigan in the game. How about putting Hernandez at 3rd base and hope for the best?By G-Fox
June 30, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this
Hah! Taveras is 7 for his last 14, Dickerson 5 for his last 18. I guess that does indeed make Dickerson the “hotter” player.By Gary Maloy Jr.
June 30, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this
More managerial jibberish. I never thought I’d say this, but the Reds are at .500 and competing - not because of Dusty Baker, but despite of him. Dusty, ol’ buddy, put the hottest 8 players on the field. Use Tavaras as a pinch runner and defensive substitute if you must use his services, but please don’t give us more of his “batting”.